Teenagers now list using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter as
their number one pastime, overtaking watching television, according to a new
report.

Sixty-five per cent of the 16-24 year-olds who were polled for the survey, listed talking to their friends via Facebook and Twitter, as their top leisure activity.

A third of the group spend more than three hours networking online at a time, in a range of locations – including hospital operating tables and court.

TV companies have been aware of this growing trend and are working on a number of options to try and engage younger people online in conjunction with TV programmes. For instance, Channel 4’s hugely successful online game version of The Million Pound Drop, has generated 11 million plays since launching in 2010 and has engaged those viewers surfing the web instead of watching TV. People are encouraged to play along online while viewing the programme.

The study, which polled 1,300 people across the UK and was conducted by a digital marketing agency, Click Consult, found that the appeal of social media was also growing in older age groups, with nearly a third of those aged over 55, logging onto social media sites before switching the TV on.

“The social media revolution is not new, but for it to now take over from the nation’s favourite pastime for the younger audience, truly indicates how quickly leisure habits are evolving in our digital age,” said Matt Bullas, managing director of Click Consult.